Archetypes are my favourite subject. As a trainer, mentor and author on the topic, it’s always a pleasure for me to write about archetypes. We can use archetypes as a tool to access our hidden powers and potential.

Archetypes help us to connect to our internal source of wisdom so that we can live life from the inside out instead of the outside in.

I like to think of each archetype as a mirror for self-reflection. Self-reflection is the ability to observe our thoughts, feelings and behaviour in an objective manner. We can use self-reflection to improve self-awareness and increase self-knowledge. Knowledge is power, so I think it’s safe to say that self-knowledge is personal power.

Archetypes show us our power. When we identify our twelve personal archetypes, we have access to a hall of mirrors. We can make our way through the hall, and pause in front of each mirror to examine our reflection. We have the opportunity to laugh at ourselves, to be compassionate with ourselves, or we might be disturbed by what we see. Whatever we see, we learn something new about ourselves because archetypes are an unlimited source of information. Archetypes help us to connect to our internal source of wisdom so that we can live life from the inside out instead of the outside in.

On the surface, the quest for self-awareness might seem to be self indulgent, but greater self-awareness can improve the choices we make. In turn, our choices influence how we experience life, and how we interact with others and the environment.

The power of archetypes is a secret worth sharing. Archetypes are patterns, and patterns can be read. We can read the patterns in nature. We can read the patterns in our behaviour. A pattern can be analysed. A pattern can be changed. A pattern can tell us about the past, the present and the future. Once we recognise a pattern, we can apply our insights so that we create change for the better.

Archetypes invite us to explore our potential; to recognise our potential; to accept our potential; and most of all to honour our potential, even if we can’t see it yet.